Post Pandemic Job Recovery

Posted on March 15, 2023 by grim

From the State of NJ:

Updated Labor Data: New Jersey Experienced Higher Employment Growth Over Past 2 Years Than First Reported

TRENTON – The state’s job market performed better than initially estimated over the past two years, with 34,000 additional jobs gained, according to updated data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The information also shows the Garden State’s employment recovery from the pandemic occurred months earlier than first reported.
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The BLS’s benchmark process, a required annual review and adjustment of previously released employment data at the state and metropolitan area levels, adjusts monthly, sample-based survey estimates to full-universe counts of employment, primarily derived from records of the unemployment insurance tax system.

The annual benchmarking adjustments indicate that the over-the-year (Dec. 2021 – Dec. 2022) change in total nonfarm jobs was revised to a gain of 129,700, a smaller increase from the previously reported gain of 148,900. However, including higher revisions made for 2021, the two-year job gain now stands at 395,300 – 34,000 more jobs than originally estimated.

Benchmarked data also revised employment losses due to the pandemic. The revisions show that in March and April 2020, New Jersey lost a total of 730,200 nonfarm jobs, or 17.3 percent of the state’s nonfarm employment total in February 2020. Previous estimates had shown 732,600 jobs lost. Revisions also indicate the total nonfarm employment recovery back to February 2020 levels occurred earlier than previously estimated. The payroll gain was fully realized in April 2022 – rather than in August 2022.

The revised data show that over the December 2021 – December 2022 period, all nine major private industry sectors added to their payrolls. The year-over-year gains were led by education and health services (+41,400), trade, transportation, and utilities (+29,200), leisure and hospitality (+26,900), other services (+9,300), professional and business services (+7,100), manufacturing (+6,700), information (+4,700), financial activities (+2,400), and construction (+1,800). Public sector employment was essentially flat, recording a year-over-year gain of just 100 jobs.

Labor force estimates for New Jersey residents were also revised. The average annual unemployment rate was 3.7 percent for 2022, a decline from 6.6 percent in 2021, and just one-tenth of a percentage point above the 2022 national rate of 3.6 percent. 

Posted in Economics, Employment, New Jersey Real Estate | 114 Comments

Mortgage rates drop

Posted on March 14, 2023 by grim

From CNBC:

Mortgage rates tumble in the wake of bank failures

The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage dropped to 6.57% on Monday, according to Mortgage News Daily. That’s down from a rate of 6.76% on Friday and a recent high of 7.05% last Wednesday.

Mortgage rates loosely follow the yield on the 10-year Treasury, which fell to a one-month low in response to the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and the ensuing ripple through the nation’s banking sector.

In real terms, for a buyer looking at a $500,000 home with a 20% down payment on a 30-year fixed mortgage, the monthly payment this week is $128 less than it was just last week. It is still, however, higher than it was in January.

So what does this mean for the spring housing market?

In October, rates surged over 7%, and that started the real slowdown in home sales. But rates then started falling in December and were near 6% by the end of January. That caused a surprising 8% monthly jump in pending home sales,which is the National Association of Realtors’ measure of signed contracts on existing homes. Sales of newly built homes, which the Census Bureau measures by signed contracts, also surged far higher than expected.

While the numbers for February are not in yet, anecdotally, agents and builders have said sales took a big step back in February as rates shot higher. So if rates continue to drop now, buyers could return once again — but that’s a big “if.”

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, Mortgages, National Real Estate | 115 Comments

The bailout that’s not a bailout…

Posted on March 13, 2023 by grim

From CNBC:

Bill Ackman says U.S. did the ‘right thing’ in protecting SVB depositors. Not everyone agrees

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman said the U.S. government’s action to protect depositors after the implosion of Silicon Valley Bank is “not a bailout” and helps restore confidence in the banking system.

In his latest tweet on SVB’s collapse, the hedge fund investor said the U.S. government did the “right thing.”

“This was not a bailout in any form. The people who screwed up will bear the consequences,” wrote the CEO of Pershing Square. “Importantly, our gov’t has sent a message that depositors can trust the banking system.”

Ackman’s comments came after banking regulators announced plans over the weekend to backstop depositors with money at Silicon Valley Bank, which was shut down on Friday after a bank run.

“Without this confidence, we are left with three or possibly four too-big-to-fail banks where the taxpayer is explicitly on the hook, and our national system of community and regional banks is toast,” Ackman added.

Ackman further explained that in this incident, shareholders and bondholders of the banks will be mainly the ones affected, and the losses will be absorbed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) insurance fund.

This is in contrast to the great financial crisis in 2007-2008, where the U.S. government injected taxpayers’ money in the form of preferred stock into banks, and bondholders were protected.

Posted in Economics, Politics, Risky Lending | 155 Comments

The old NAR is back..

Posted on March 12, 2023 by grim

From Insider:

A top real estate economist explains why a housing rebound is coming as rising sales and lack of supply look poised to lift home prices

While some experts have warned of an impending US housing crash, Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of research at the National Association of Realtors, anticipates the opposite.

Home prices and sales will dip this year, but she anticipates a rebound in 2024 with sales rising and limited supplies sparking price gains.

“It seems that home sales activity has bottomed out, and 2023 will be the turning point for the housing market,” Evangelou told Insider. “We don’t expect any housing crash.”

In fact, some indicators are already turning positive. The NAR’s pending home sales index has ticked higher for two consecutive months and saw its largest monthly increase since June 2020.
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The real estate economist said the US continues to suffer from a severe housing shortage, which has persisted for over a decade coming out of the Great Financial Crisis. 

“Back in 2008, we had an oversupply of homes by like 4 million, but now we have less than 1 million,” Evangelou said. “And this is the main factor that keeps home prices from falling.”
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On the demand side, she said it will stay elevated, helped by the robust labor market. So even though there are relatively few buyers now amid low inventory, housing demand continues to outpace supply, Evangelou said.

While higher interest rate expectations are weighing on homebuying activity, Evangelou anticipates the trend to ease in the latter half of this year.

NAR forecasts that there could be up to an 11% drop in home sales this year. Then in 2024, activity could jump by about 18%, she said. 

Similarly, home prices should drop about 2% this year, then rise about 3% to 4% next year, she added. That’s much more upbeat than other forecasts.

Posted in Economics, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 82 Comments

Suck it up

Posted on March 10, 2023 by grim

From the Record:

Is $500K the new $300K? What you’ll pay for a starter home in North Jersey

Newlyweds Joseph and Cheryl Petta just wanted to buy their first home in North Jersey.

It was a disheartening year and a half of house-hunting. Rockaway, West Milford, Midland Park, Wharton. They looked everywhere.

“We’ve looked close to 50, maybe more houses, and we made a couple offers on a couple houses, and we’ve gotten blown out of the water every time,” said Joseph Petta. “Not even considered.”

The Pettas budget is in the $400,000 range, and with uncertainty about how a recession could affect housing prices, they’re hesitant to go too far beyond that.

They may get shut out. Peruse Zillow, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a starter home listed below $500,000. 

It’s the new trend: $500,000 is the new $300,000 — what was once the typical asking price for a starter home before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“This is definitely happening over the years, and obviously with Covid, back in 2020, when prices just skyrocketed,” said Andrew Gangi, a Woodcliff Lake realtor that serves the Pascack Valley region. “It just raised the prices of everything.” 

Added Steven Pescatore, a Wayne realtor, “it’s a lot harder for young people to get a starter home. Even if they’re looking for a condo, there’s not really a lot available. It used to be you get a nice condo for $150,000, $200,000, now it’s $350,000, $400,000.” 

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Housing Bubble, New Jersey Real Estate | 197 Comments

Welcome to the Top 10

Posted on March 9, 2023 by grim

From CoreLogic:

US Home Price Insights – March 2023

January 2023 National Home Prices

Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased year over year by 5.5% in January 2023 compared with January 2022. On a month-over-month basis, home prices declined by 0.2% in January  2023 compared with December 2022 (revisions with public records data are standard, and to ensure accuracy, CoreLogic incorporates the newly released public data to provide updated results).

Forecast Prices Nationally

The CoreLogic HPI Forecast indicates that home prices will decrease on a month-over-month basis  by 0.1% from January 2023 to February 2023 and increase on a year-over-year basis by 3.1% from January 2023 to January 2024.

Home Prices Decline in Three Western States and Washington, D.C. From January 2022

U.S. home prices continued their gradual free fall in January, with the 5.5% annual gain down for the ninth straight month and the lowest recorded since June 2020. Deceleration was particularly noticeable in the Western U.S. and other states and metro areas that saw substantial appreciation over the past few years. Three Northwestern states (along with Washington, D.C.) posted at least slight annual declines as migration patterns that began during the pandemic shifted, slowing demand and driving price decreases.

Posted in Economics, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate, New Jersey Real Estate | 110 Comments

Will we see 8?

Posted on March 8, 2023 by grim

From Mortgage News Daily:

Mortgage Rates Head Back Over 7% After Powell Testimony

Jerome Powell is the Chair of the Federal Reserve–the entity that sets overnight lending rates in an attempt to keep inflation in a low, stable range.  Inflation has been anything but low and stable recently, so the Fed has hiked overnight rates at the fastest pace in 40 years.

Mortgage rates have also risen at the fastest pace in 40 years, but they are not directly dictated by the Fed.  Rather, the Fed’s direct influence on overnight rates spills over to the rest of the rate market.  The longer the duration of any given borrowing term, the less connected the interest rate may be to the Fed Funds Rate.

Moreover, the market adjusts expectations for the Fed Funds Rate constantly whereas the Fed only officially hikes/cuts 8 times a year.  When the Fed meets again in 2 weeks, they will certainly be hiking rates again.  The only question is “by how much?” 

Markets had been steadfast in their expectations for a 0.25% hike, which is viewed as the minimum increment for a rate change from the Fed.  With some recent data indicating plenty of economic resilience and persistent inflationary pressures, calls have increased for a 0.50% hike.  

In a scheduled testimony before the Senate Banking Committee today, Fed Chair Powell stopped short of specifying a number for the next rate hike, but commented qualitatively on the need to hike faster/more than previously expected.  Markets consequently upped the odds for a bigger hike in 2 weeks as well as a higher ceiling expected by the end of 2023.

Again, the Fed Funds Rate doesn’t directly dictate mortgage rates, but there was a bit of spillover as market expectations shifted in the direction of “higher for longer.”  The average mortgage lender was already close to 7% for a top tier conventional conforming 30yr fixed scenario, and today’s weakness was enough to officially push us up into the low 7’s.

Posted in Economics, Housing Bubble, Mortgages, National Real Estate | 136 Comments

NJ Economic Outlook

Posted on March 7, 2023 by grim

From Charles Steindel at the Steve Sweeny Center for Public Policy at Rowan:

Multi-Year Budget Workgroup: New Jersey Economic Outlook

New Jersey’s economy did well in 2022, setting new highs in jobs, output, and income, generally matching or exceeding growth in neighboring states, and keeping pace with the national expansion. However, the widespread expectation is that the national economy could fall into a recession in the near future, reflecting the interest rate hikes the Federal Reserve has generated to bring down price inflation. In this environment New Jersey’s economy will face headwinds. If, as is widely expected, any recession would be relatively modest and short, New Jersey should start to recover in 2024. Nevertheless, ongoing corrections in the equity and housing markets will weigh upon many New Jersey residents and impact state revenues for some time.
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Preliminary numbers show that the number of jobs in New Jersey hit a new record high in August 2022, and kept growing through the end of the year (the job figures for 2022 are still subject to the regular annual “benchmark” revision, which will be released in March. It is now anticipated that the current numbers are underestimates). The recovery from the pandemic collapse has been remarkable: New Jersey saw a drop in jobs in early 2020 that was notably larger than the national average, but has since experienced larger than average gains. The state’s job count grew 3.6% from December 2021 to December 2022, higher than the national gain of 3.0%, as well as New York’s 3.1%, and a touch better than Pennsylvania’s 3.5%.
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The data on state output and income reinforce the good news we have received on the labor front. The first three quarters of 2022 saw New Jersey set new records for the dollar value of state Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the first and third quarters set new records for “real” (inflation-adjusted) GDP. The dollar value of GDP is of particular importance since its long-term growth is, to a rough approximation, a plausible proxy for the growth of the revenue base for both state and local governments.
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New Jersey will not be immune from a recession. At the least, the state’s huge logistics sector will be hurt by a softening in demand for goods shipped to the Port of New York and New Jersey. New York City has experienced a subpar recovery, due to ongoing softness in the financial and tourism sectors, which are vulnerable to a national downturn. Weakness in the Big Apple will have some spillovers to New Jersey, in areas such as retail sales and real estate. As mentioned, there is also some potential for a ramp-up in foreclosures. Given a mild recession we expect a modest loss of jobs in 2023, and an uptick in the unemployment rate.

The recovery from the recession is also expected to be fairly sluggish: while the Fed might bring interest rates down substantively, given the current partisan gridlock in D.C., along with concerns over the level of federal debt, there is little likelihood of much cyclical relief on the tax or spending fronts. It was a hopeful sign that numbers of major economic indicators in New Jersey actually grew better than the national average, but in looking ahead it would be better to assume that the longer-term trend of slower growth here continues.

In this environment, not only will income and spending growth slow, but so will real estate transactions (in number and dollar values), as well as capital gains realizations. All these factors will work to hold down revenues. A return to growth in 2024 will ease the situation, but as we saw in the last decade, it will take some time before revenues again grow robustly.

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, New Jersey Real Estate | 90 Comments

Finally, prices fall…

Posted on March 4, 2023 by grim

From the NY Post:

US home prices just did something they haven’t done since 2012

US home prices in February posted their first year-over-year decline in more than a decade as surging mortgage rates put the squeeze on the market.

The average US home sold for $350,246 for the four weeks ending on Feb. 26, according to an analysis by real estate firm Redfin this week. The sale price plunged by 0.6% compared to the same month one year ago — the first annual decline since February 2012.

“Prices falling from a year ago is a milestone because it hasn’t happened since the housing market was recovering from the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis,” Redfin deputy chief economist Taylor Marr said in a statement.

“Home prices skyrocketed so much over the last few years that they were likely to come down once rates rose from historic lows,” Marr added.
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The largest price declines were in “pandemic homebuying hotspots,” the firm said. 

Austin, Texas, posted the largest year-over-year decline of 11%.

Posted in Economics, Employment, Housing Bubble, Mortgages, National Real Estate | 55 Comments

Back to 7%

Posted on March 3, 2023 by grim

From CNBC:

Mortgage rates jump back over 7% as inflation fears drive yields higher

The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage jumped back over 7% on Thursday, rising to 7.1%, according to Mortgage News Daily.

Growing fears that inflation is not cooling off are pushing bond yields higher.Mortgage rates loosely follow the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury.

“Rates continue to move at the suggestion of economic data, and the data hasn’t been friendly. This is scary considering this week’s data is insignificant compared to several upcoming reports,” said Matthew Graham, chief operating officer at Mortgage News Daily.

Rates went over 7% last October. That was the highest level in more than 20 years. But they pulled back in the following months, as inflation appeared to be easing. By mid-January rates were touching 6%, spurring a big jump in buyers signing contracts on existing homes.

So-called pending home sales rose an unexpectedly strong 8% from December, according to the National Association of Realtors. But the past four weeks have been rough. Rates have moved 100 basis points higher since the start of February.

For a buyer purchasing a $400,000 home with 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan, the monthly payment, including principal and interest, is now roughly $230 a month more than it would have been a month ago. Compared with a year ago, when rates were in the 4% range, today’s monthly payment is about 50% higher.

As a result, mortgage applications from homebuyers have been falling for the past month and last week hit a 28-year low, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

“The recent jump in mortgage rates has led to a retreat in purchase applications, with activity down for three straight weeks,” said Bob Broeksmit, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. “After solid gains in purchase activity to begin 2023, higher rates, ongoing inflationary pressures, and economic volatility are giving some prospective homebuyers pause about entering the housing market.”

Posted in Mortgages, National Real Estate | 77 Comments

Billion Dollar Jersey Stimulus?

Posted on March 2, 2023 by grim

From TAP:

Nearly 1.7 Million New Jerseyans Applied for the ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program

Approximately 1.7 million New Jersey homeowners and renters applied for the first year of the State’s historic ANCHOR property tax relief program, announced Governor Phil Murphy and Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. The last day to file for the program was Feb. 28.

Of the applications, more than 1.1 million were filed by homeowners and more than 480,000 were filed by renters, who were eligible for property tax relief for the first time in a generation, said officials. 

“My Administration has once again responded to the concerns of hard-working families not by offering empty words and promises, but by delivering on the promise of affordability and real property tax relief,” said Governor Murphy. “Thanks to the historic and unprecedented ANCHOR program, almost 1.7 million more New Jerseyans are now better positioned to pursue their own American Dream, a pursuit that has been too often hindered by high costs of living and affordability constraints. As I indicated during my Budget Address yesterday, that number is merely the beginning and only motivates us to re-double our efforts to support hard-working families throughout the next fiscal year.”

To have been eligible for this year’s benefit, homeowners and renters must have occupied their primary residence on October 1, 2019, and file or be exempt from NJ income taxes. Homeowners who earned between $150,000 and $250,000 in 2019 may be eligible for a $1,000 rebate, homeowners who earned up to $150,000 in 2019 may be eligible for a $1,500 rebate, and renters who earned up to $150,000 in 2019 may be eligible for a $450 rebate.
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Payments will be issued in the form of checks or direct deposits sent no later than May 2023 and will not be subject to State income tax.

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 43 Comments

We’re spending more … for you!

Posted on March 1, 2023 by grim

From Politico:

Murphy outlines $53B plan for ‘Next New Jersey’ in budget speech

Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday outlined a $53.1 billion budget that supports what he calls the “Next New Jersey” as the state faces the prospect of a recession after recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Loaded with billions to cut another round of rebate checks to taxpayers, stockpile savings and pay down debt, the spending plan is once again the biggest in state history, but does not include new taxes or fare increases for NJ Transit riders. It doesn’t include any notable new programs, either, but instead builds on the foundation the Democratic governor laid in budgets past with an eye on what he called affordability, responsibility and opportunity.

“This entire budget is purpose-built to help you find your place in the Next New Jersey by securing your place in the New Jersey of right now,” Murphy said in a roughly 50-minute speech. “Indeed, this is a budget focused on the pocketbooks of our families.”

Murphy’s annual address kicks off months of negotiations with the Democratic-led Legislature that inevitably will lead to changes and late deal-making. Last year, for example, lawmakers added millions in pet projects to Murphy’s proposed $48.9 billion budget, bringing the total to $50.6 billion when he signed it in June.

With all 120 seats in the Legislature on the ballot in November — the first election since Democrats lost several seats in a surprisingly strong Republican cycle in 2021 — it wouldn’t be surprising to see another year of padded spending to arm incumbents with arguments for reelection.

And Democrats already have one perk to show off to voters: the ANCHOR property tax rebate checks hitting mailboxes this spring. That program, first launched last year, delivers up to $1,500 to about 1.5 million homeowners and renters in an attempt to soften the blow of the state’s nation-leading property taxes.

Murphy is proposing to continue that program for another year at a cost of $2 billion.

Murphy also wants to double the state’s child tax credit from $500 to $1,000 for each child younger than five years old. And for seniors, he wants to expand the Senior Freeze property tax reimbursement program to people with incomes up to $150,000. Last year, the income limit was $100,000.

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 65 Comments

The mighty will fall

Posted on February 28, 2023 by grim

From the NY Post:

Home prices set for double-digit plunge in major Western US cities: Goldman Sachs

Four US cities that experienced housing booms during the COVID-19 pandemic are set for major declines in home prices by the end of next year, according to Goldman Sachs analysts.

The pandemic boomtowns of Austin, Seattle, Phoenix and San Francisco will all experience double-digit price declines as an increase of available homes surpasses demand, the bank’s analysts said in a note to clients last Thursday obtained by Insider.

The largest decrease in home prices will occur in Austin, where values are projected to slump 19% by late 2024 compared to late 2022, according to the note. Prices are expected to sink in Phoenix by 16%, San Francisco by 15% and Seattle by 12%.

“Rather than being indicative of things to come across the country, we view the nascent oversupply in Pacific Coast and Southwest markets as reflecting local challenges, particularly very poor levels of affordability, pandemic-related distortions, and (in certain markets) a high concentration of employment in the technology industry,” the Goldman Sachs analysts said in the note, according to Insider.

As the analysts noted, Seattle and San Francisco are home to major tech firms — many of which, including giants such as Amazon, Google and Twitter, have conducted layoffs in response to worsening economic conditions.

On a national level, home prices are expected to plunge by 6.1% this year as the housing correction plays out, according to Goldman.

The once-red-hot US housing market has struggled over the last year during a surge in mortgage rates, which were hovering at an average of 6.5% as of last week, according to Freddie Mac. 

The steep rates have pushed many prospective homebuyers to the sidelines and forced some owners to slash their asking prices to entice demand.

Posted in Economics, Employment, Housing Bubble, Mortgages, National Real Estate | 54 Comments

But Murphy said we should be happy to pay

Posted on February 27, 2023 by grim

From Patch:

Wyckoff Rep. Sounds Alarm On ‘Exodus’ Of Jobs, People From New Jersey

Fifth District Rep. Josh Gottheimer is sounding the alarm on what he said is an “exodus” of jobs and people from New Jersey.

In his State of the District address on Feb. 15, the congressman asked the question: “Will we build on our great history, and our strengths, and the values we celebrate, or will we let other states pass us by and steal our jobs and tax dollars?”

“Will we make life more affordable,” Gottheimer continued, “or will people and businesses keep packing up to study, work and retire elsewhere?”

New Jersey, according to the U.S. Census, lost more residents (-64,231) to other states over the past year than any other state, except for California, New York and Illinois. 

Gottheimer identified the “exodus” of people and jobs to other states as one of his five key points for a “stronger, tougher” Fifth District in his State of the District address.

He said, in the address, that in order to compete with the rest of the country and help people stay in New Jersey, the state needs to make life more affordable for residents, and draw more good-paying jobs and businesses. 

Of all 50 states, New Jersey, according to the Tax Foundation, has the highest business income tax in the nation, and ranks third-worst for individual taxes, and sixth-worst for property taxes, the congressman cited. In addition, the tax structure ranks worst in the country for retirees, he said. 

“These stats aren’t exactly something you put on a recruitment bumper sticker to attract young families and retirees — or new businesses, and the jobs that come with them,” Gottheimer said. 

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 35 Comments

Can’t even afford the trailer park

Posted on February 26, 2023 by grim

From the NY Post:

Inside the Hamptons trailer park that’s become a playground for millionaires

In the summer of 1998, Ken Hilderbrandt was contemplating buying a bigger boat — or a beachfront trailer on a wave-swept bluff in Montauk overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. 

“There was a [for-sale] sign on the window, rotted off,” Hilderbrandt, 85, told The Post, recalling the dilapidated trailer sitting on a 1,972-square-foot lot of land within Montauk Shores, the former seaside campsite for working-class vacationers, locals and surfers. Hilderbrandt, who owns a jet-ski rental business in Bellport, saw the potential. Sure, it was a fixer-upper off a dirt road — but the million-dollar ocean views pulled him in like a riptide. The asking price was $150,000. 

“I said, ‘That’s ridiculous.’ It was old. It needed to be gutted. I took a look inside, walked out here with him and said, ‘I’ll make you an offer — for $95,000.’ He said, ‘I want $96,500.’ So that was it,” Hilderbrandt said. He sold his boat and purchased the trailer. 

“Back then, you could rent them for $50 a month,” he said. A decade later, he tore down the trailer and erected a two-bed, two-bath modular home with a wraparound porch, marble countertops and laminate floors, investing around $100,000 in the remodel. Today, his humble 1,200-square-foot abode could command $60,000 as a three-month summer rental, enough to send one of his grandkids to college, he told The Post. He said he won’t even consider selling the property for under $5 million. 

Though it bills itself as “Montauk’s best kept secret,” 65-year-old trailer park Montauk Shores is now a shabby-chic status symbol that’s dividing the local community. Hilderbrandt may drive a reliable Honda — but you’re just as likely to spot a Mercedes SUV parked here. Deep-pocketed buyers are being lured in by its location in Ditch Plains — a surfer’s paradise spanning two miles of sandy cliffs and the most coveted waves on Long Island’s East End. This week, The Post reported that an off-market listing for an 800-square-foot oceanfront trailer located on Edgewater Drive was in contract to sell for a record-breaking $3.75 million.

Posted in Demographics, Economics, National Real Estate, Philly | 17 Comments